Despite constant efforts and correspondence at various levels, the NCC charged the Bengal government with failing to release its portion of the funds. Due to the state government’s non-payment of funds, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) officials in West Bengal have stopped new enrolments and paused training for current cadets, according to a senior official’s letter to the Defence Ministry.
The Bengal government did not release its part for 2022–2023, according to Major General U S Sengupta, additional director general of NCC’s Bengal and Sikkim directorate, in a letter to the Defence Ministry in Delhi dated October 7. The letter appeared on social media on Wednesday, which set off a brawl between the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the state’s current government, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its main rival. The photographs of the letter were shared by a number of BJP leaders.
The Bengal government did not release the money “despite repeated efforts and correspondence at all levels, liaison with the finance secretary, and having highlighted the matter to the chief secretary,” according to the letter, which did not specify the amount.
HT has seen the letter’s copy. 41,068 of Bengal’s 95,120 NCC cadets will be unable to attend central annual training camps and will consequently lose their eligibility to sit for the NCC B and C certificate exams, according to the letter, which cited a lack of funding for 103 sessions.
The letter stated that “enrollment of cadets for this year is being suspended” and continued, “As on date, we cannot train even the already enrolled cadets.” A local government handles 25% of the NCC’s annual budget for that state while the federal government contributes 75% of the cash, according to Major B B Singh, spokesperson for the NCC directorate in Bengal. “Up to this point, the Bengali government has released 80 lakh. 3 crores is still pending. Without this fund, I can hold no training camp, declared Major Singh.
Suvendu Adhikari, the head of the opposition in the Bengal legislative assembly, claimed that the government was spending money on celebrations rather than focusing on issues.
“The Mamata Banerjee administration is primarily concerned with funding Durga Puja and other celebrations.
According to Adhikari, it would soon run out of money to pay the salaries of its staff. The finance minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya, denied the charge.
“On October 21, we distributed 20 lakh, and we will also disperse the remaining funds.
However, we also need to look into how the funds are being used.
Those who criticise us should ask the Centre why it no longer provides funds for social welfare programmes on behalf of the state, according to Bhattacharya.
